The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1887-08-13


marbles Che other day when papa
didn't have amy change and I've
only thirty-three.
"All right, that will do, said NAM
ma.
Well, wasn't she growing queer"
"Now, boys, want you to take this
money, sixty-eight cents, aud 60 down
to Mr.. Woods store and buy me enough
gingham for two aprons; let me see,
yes, five yards will answer, then there'll
be enough for strings and all. Then
buy two German silver thimbles
to fit your fingers, you can get
them for five cents apiece, and then
come home and Twill tell you what
else to do"
Then the boys began to see ahead
little, and somehow they felt queer"
and Will said, going out:
Tom, mammals too much for us
this time!'
Mr.. Wood waited upon the boys with
pleasure, and thought nothing strange
when they boughtthe gingham--though
the boys themselves hardly knew ging-
ham from calico, only, as Tom said,
bingham turns, you know" and as
Hannah's apron was a fine check, they
knew what to ask for.
But when they asked for thimbles,
and had to fit their own fingers, Mr..
Wood said: "Well, now, you must be
industrious boys, | must say; there
isn't boy in ten knows how to sew;
but it's good thing to know, and
your mother must be very sensible
woman to set you at it."
Dear! how their faces tingled! and
very glad were they to escape into the
street.
'1t'll get all over the place, Tom. "
"Of course, Will, and I'd rather have
ten talkings from mamma, and some
of papa's whippings than that"
"Now, boys" said Mrs. Lathbury,
upon their return, II hope you have
made good purchase. Yes, indeed"
she said, as she unrolled the parcel,
you have done nicely. Now, l will
furnish you with the needles and
thread, as l fear you have not much
left over, and give you your first lesson
in sewing"
Not a word more-nothing like al
am grieved to learn my boys have done
an unkindness" oh, no, nothing like
that; in fact no "talk" of any kind,
but just two yards and a half of ging-
ham to each boy, a needle, thread,
the fitting of thimbles, and all was
ready.
At first it required some patience to
teach the boys how to handle their
work properly, and how to pull the
needle through without getting it I'M
threaded, but Mrs. Lathbury perse-
vered, and finally the boys were left to
themselves, and their mother resumed
her reading.
For time the novelty of it pleased
Will, who always saw the "fun, "
in any thing at once, and he said tc
Tom:
Mammals put the check on us this
time
But Tom did not feel like punning
and he answered, grufly:
keep still, Will; feel as clumsy al
a bear with needle"
mo quarreling, boys, or you will
have to take out all you have done"
That was the only stern thing theil
mother said.
Oh, what q lesson in patience wa
that for boys, and how tiresome it grew
after little!
So hard to keep from quarrelins
when the thread "kinked up" and 81
: many other things happened.
At last Mrs. Lathbury said: "Yol
may put up your work now, boys; it i
| nearly time for supper, and after sup
per, as you have your lessons to get
, there will be no time for sewing, bu
tomorrow when you come from schoo
you may take it up again, and so oil
every day unit the aprons are finished.
t "Well, my dears," said papa at til
Q supper table, al presume you have bee
q good boys to-day, as usual"
Will looked at Tom, Tom looked q
: Will, and both looked at msmms
. Mamma said nothing, and Mr.. Latt
: bury went on:
by the way, Jeanette, you wishe
to see me to-day; what was it about
,, my dear7"
n Then mamma had not told, after al
Wasn't she lovely?"
5 'Oh, never mind, Richard; at tn
y time l needed your help very mucl
# but afterward found could do witt
" out it."
Then Will winked at Tom as muc
J, as to say she had, but papa caught tn
wink, and then it all had to come GU
'Thomasl Williaml / am ashame
n OF you! however, shall let your moth'
| 4 N L =,